It may have been a poor season for Newcastle United, and rightly or wrongly, many are calling for Eddie Howe‘s head. But no matter which opinion you hold, it can’t be underestimated just how much progress there has been since his appointment.
So, four and a half years on from Howe’s appointment, let’s take a trip down memory lane and have a look at his first-ever lineup as Newcastle boss — and see where they are now.
The game was a 3-3 draw with Brentford at St James’ Park on November 20, 2021.
Goalkeeper: Karl Darlow
Darlow spent seven full seasons at Newcastle before being moved on to Hull City in the 2022/23 season.
He was rarely Newcastle’s starting goalkeeper in the Premier League during his tenure and most probably expected he would fade into the background of England’s pyramid after his departure.
But after a few seasons as a backup goalkeeper for Hull and Leeds, respectively, the Welshman has found himself starting quite often during Leeds’ return to the Premier League.
Darlow has made 19 Premier League appearances to this point and has been in solid form in the absence of Lucas Perri.
Centre-back: Fabian Schar
Schar is one of four players in this XI who remain part of the current squad.
The Swiss defender has been out for much of this season with an injury suffered in the 4-3 victory over Leeds and faces an uncertain future with his contract up at the end of the season.
Schar has been a fantastic servant for Newcastle and has made over 210 appearances for the club, emerging as one of the Premier League’s best ball-playing centre-backs.
No matter what happens going forward, Schar will always be remembered fondly on Tyneside and will go down as a club legend.
Centre-back: Jamaal Lascelles
Jamaal Lascelles was a massive part of Newcastle’s furniture for the best part of a decade and was the club captain before being moved on in January.
He stood up to be counted when not many others did during the Ashley era and endeared himself to the Geordie faithful through his leadership and commitment during the tough periods of the mid to late 2010s.
After some recent seasons struggling with injury, Lascelles moved on to Leicester City in January, where he was subsequently relegated to League One with the club.
Centre-back: Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark joined the Magpies from Aston Villa in the summer of 2016/17 and played a large part in the title-winning promotion from the Championship under Rafa Benitez.
Clark never really made a name for himself with the fans, although he is fondly remembered for his sending-off against Norwich that indirectly led to Joelinton’s transition into midfield.
The Irishman moved on from the club in 2022/23 and had two bit-part seasons at Sheffield United and Stoke City, respectively.
He is yet to retire from professional football but, at 36 years of age, currently spends his time playing in the Baller League for YouTuber Niko Omilana’s NDL FC.
Right wing-back: Jacob Murphy
Jacob Murphy is another who remains in the current squad and is now part of Eddie Howe’s leadership group.
Despite his relative struggle for form this season, Murphy has become fondly regarded by fans after recording 14 assists last season.
That saw him spark an excellent partnership with controversial figure Alexander Isak and led to the nickname ‘the charger’, following issues Isak has faced at Liverpool this season.
Murphy continues to have an impact, including an excellent assist for William Osula in the 3-1 win over Brighton this past weekend. However, there is a growing sense it may be time to move on from the winger in the coming seasons.
Centre midfield: Joe Willock
Another player still in the squad who, like Murphy, continues to contribute when called upon.
Willock’s best moments came during that lauded run of seven goals in seven games, which essentially kept Newcastle in the division during his loan spell.
His move was subsequently made permanent, and he has remained a solid option despite ongoing injury problems.
Willock is another player teetering on the edge of a potential departure, with many believing this may be the summer the club looks to cash in as part of a rebuild after a poor season.
Centre midfield: Jonjo Shelvey
Jonjo Shelvey is a player fondly remembered by Newcastle fans for his time at the club — whether that is justified or not is open to interpretation…
In fairness to the midfielder, he often stood out during some dark times for the club and played a big part in promotion and numerous relegation battles.
Shelvey left the Magpies in 2022/23, before an underwhelming stint at Nottingham Forest saw him try his luck in Turkey with Rizespor.
Moves to Eyupspor and Burnley followed before a switch to the Gulf, where he now holds a managerial role at UAE second-division club Arabian Falcons.
Left wing-back: Matt Ritchie
Signed and later sold by Eddie Howe at Bournemouth before reuniting with his former manager at Newcastle, Matt Ritchie is another fondly remembered by the fanbase.
Ritchie’s best season came during the Championship campaign, where he scored 16 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions.
Interestingly, while Ritchie’s game time began to dwindle before his move to Portsmouth in 2024/25, Jacob Murphy still credits him as the mastermind behind his crossing ability — meaning his influence is still felt on Tyneside.
Ritchie is now at Reading in League One, where he has made 29 appearances this season, recording six assists.
Right wing: Joelinton
Ah yes — the days when Joelinton was still largely considered a forward… how times have changed.
Now regarded as the Premier League’s midfield enforcer, Joelinton actually received the Man of the Match award in Howe’s first game after scoring in the 39th minute.
Looking back at moments like heading the ball onto his own face against Spurs really highlights just how far Joelinton has come under Howe’s guidance.
A fan favourite who could remain at the club for years to come, Joelinton is perhaps one of the most inspiring success stories Newcastle United has had in a long time.
Striker: Callum Wilson
Regarded by Newcastle fans as the man who scored 23 goals last year — including one in the Carabao Cup final (purely because talking about Isak is forbidden) — Wilson is one of the best strikers the club has had in recent years.
All jokes aside, Wilson was a brilliant goalscorer when the club needed him most, including an 18-goal Premier League season in 2022/23 that helped secure Champions League football.
Following torrid injury problems that disrupted any momentum, Wilson was moved on to West Ham in the summer, where he has found himself on the bench for long spells despite scoring six goals in 10 starts.
Newcastle play West Ham at home next week, and Wilson will likely receive a warm reception at St James’ Park.
Left wing: Allan Saint-Maximin
Where do you even start with Maxi?
By far the most entertaining Newcastle player since Hatem Ben Arfa’s stint on Tyneside, Saint-Maximin was the shining light in multiple relegation battles, and the Magpies would almost certainly have gone down at least once without him.
The Frenchman never quite adapted to the structured demands of Eddie Howe’s system and has spoken about how it limited his individualism.
That ultimately led to his departure — a sad loss for those who frequent St James’ Park. Saint-Maximin has since played in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Mexico.
He is now plying his trade in Ligue 1, where he has been in excellent form for title-chasing Lens, scoring four goals and providing three assists in just 11 games so far.
In other news, Premier League supercomputer changes Newcastle United finish as Bruno Guimaraes targets Europe.
